HAMILTON, N.Y.—It was only a matter of time before the big-play potential of the Villanova offense made an impact. Sixth year quarterback Connor Watkins (Williamsport, Pa.) threw his seventh career touchdown pass of 70 yards or longer to fifth year wide receiver Devin Smith (Durham, N.C.) in the first quarter and the Wildcats grinded out a 28-3 victory over Colgate (0-2) at Andy Kerr Stadium on Saturday evening.
 
The game was a close one at halftime (7-3) but No. 5 Villanova (2-0) needed just six plays on the opening drive of the second half to extend the margin to 14-3 and later scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away for their 18^th consecutive regular season non-conference win over an FCS opponent. Watkins was 18-of-28 for 247 yards and two touchdown passes – both to Smith – to go along with a 13-yard rushing touchdown which put the game out of reach with 3:59 to go.
 
Smith had six receptions for 116 yards and the two scores in his second game for the Wildcats as a graduate transfer from North Carolina Central. He tallied his fourth career game with two touchdowns and his third contest surpassing 100 receiving yards. Junior receivers Jaylan Sanchez (North Bergen, N.J.) and Daniel Lopes (Cheshire, Conn.) tallied receptions for 25 yards and 23 yards, respectively, as Watkins effectively looked downfield. Lopes had a career-high three receptions.
 
Even better for the Villanova offense is that the Wildcats played their second straight game to start the season without committing a turnover. Villanova had at least one turnover in every game last season but now has an unblemished plus-four margin in that department to begin the 2024 campaign. Junior safety Christian Sapp (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) recorded his third career interception and first of the season late in the game.
 
Fifth year linebacker Brendan Bell (Basking Ridge, N.J.) recorded his second straight game and sixth of his career with double-digit tackles. Nine of his team-high 10 tackles on the night were of the solo variety and the Wildcats also got six stops apiece from junior linebacker Shane Hartzell (Perkasie, Pa.) and fifth year safety Ty Trinh (Owings Mills, Md.). Villanova held the Raiders to just 3.9 yards per play and 264 total yards despite Colgate narrowly winning the time of possession battle and running eight more plays than the Wildcats offense did. Villanova had an advantage of 379-264 in total yards for the night.
 
"The key is first and second downs," Wildcats head coach Mark Ferrante said. "Our guys in the front blocked well, our running backs ran well and Connor put the ball on the money a few times. It was good to get [Connor and Devin] going. They're still trying to work their timing together. It was only [Devin's] second game in our offensively system but from week one to week two there was some good progress there and hopefully we'll keep that rolling into week three."
 
The big touchdown play in the first quarter accounted for the Wildcats only points of the first half. The host Raiders got on the board on Luke Vogeler's 39-yard field goal less than a minute into the second period. It was 7-3 at halftime but an efficient scoring drive covering six plays and 63 yards in just 2:59 was the statement that Villanova needed to start the second half. Redshirt freshman running back Isaiah Ragland (Alexandria, Va.) rushed three times for 29 yards on that drive coming out of the break, including a burst for 23 yards and eventually a one-run scamper for a score and his second career touchdown.
 
In the fourth quarter the Wildcats extended the margin to 21-3 with 10:06 left on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Watkins to Smith, while a 13-yard scoring run by Watkins with 3:59 to play sealed the outcome. Colgate was held to just four possessions after halftime, with those drives ending in a punt, an interception and two turnovers on downs.
 
Fifth year kicker Ethan Gettman (Daytona Beach, Fla.) had another good game with four extra points and an average of 43.8 yards on five punts. He landed one punt inside the 20-yard line and kicked another for a touchback. The Raiders average starting field position was their own 21-yard line.
 
Villanova returns to action at home and opens its CAA Football schedule next Saturday against Towson at 3:30 p.m.